GTU working without its own university bye-laws

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Technological University, (GTU) which was set up in 2007, still does not have any formal set of administrative rules. The university has been functioning in this manner for the past eight years, but has already issued degrees and diplomas to over two lakh pass outs. All decisions are taken directly by GTU officials without any rules or regulations to guide them on day-to-day affairs.The GTU only has a founding Act, the Gujarat Technological University Act, 2007. That Act, however, leaves out many things, which are usually covered by adminis trative rules of a university, usually included in a university statute.
The formal statute book of a university is necessary for fixing responsibility of officials and penalizing students caught copying or involved in malpractices. Also 75% attendance for students can be made compulsory through such university statutes. GTU VC Akshai Aggarwal said, “It was the responsibility and duty of the first vice chancellor, and now no vicechancellor has the power.“
The GTU had an in-charge VC, Manish Bhardwaj, and then M N Patel. Aggarwal is the first full-time vice-chancellor of the GTU. This is his second term.
M N Patel, the vice chancellor of GU and former in-charge VC of GTU, however, said, “ As an acting VC, I had already commenced the process of preparing the statute. But, since then, there hasn't been any progress, and I think this is being done on purpose.“
Sudhir Nanavati, a senior counsel of the Gujarat high court, said, “It is the duty and responsibility of every university to have such a statute and Act. Even if it is a private or deemed university , such an Act and statute is necessary. If the lack of statute or Act is challenged in court, this could lead to serious implications."